Glue Conditioning Device with Series Heat Exchanger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for conditioning glue in the production of wood-based panels face challenges in achieving reproducible consistency and viscosity, leading to issues like glue agglomerates, uneven surface appearance, and inefficient glue consumption, which can result in production interruptions and increased waste.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that incorporates a dispersing unit connected in series with a heat exchanger to adjust the glue's temperature based on viscosity, ensuring the correct consistency for processing, using a viscometer for real-time monitoring and control, and incorporating a buffer storage with a pump for optimal glue delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a dispersing unit is used to break up agglomerates in the glue, then the homogeneity of the glue is improved, but the temperature of the glue increases due to shearing work, causing viscosity fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
A heat exchanger is introduced as an intermediary component between the dispersing unit and the glue application system. The heat exchanger removes excess heat generated by the dispersing unit, cooling the glue back to the desired temperature range while maintaining the homogeneity achieved by dispersion. This mediator resolves the contradiction by decoupling the temperature increase from the homogeneity improvement.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the dispersing unit operates at high speed to ensure thorough mixing, then the glue consistency is improved, but the energy consumption increases and temperature rises
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a buffer storage to accumulate glue that has been conditioned to the correct viscosity and temperature. This allows the dispersing unit to operate intermittently at high speed when needed to achieve proper consistency, rather than running continuously at reduced speed. The buffer storage decouples the high-energy dispersion phase from the low-energy storage and delivery phase, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining glue quality.
3Loss of substance
If viscosity is not properly controlled, then glue consumption varies, but implementing control systems increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
A viscometer is integrated into the system to continuously monitor the viscosity of the glue in real-time. The viscometer provides feedback to the control system, which automatically adjusts the dispersing unit speed and heat exchanger operation to maintain viscosity within the desired range. This closed-loop feedback control minimizes glue consumption variations while keeping the control system relatively simple by using direct viscosity measurement and automatic adjustment.
4Reliability
If glue is not optimally conditioned before use, then production interruptions occur, but implementing conditioning systems increases initial setup complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system includes a buffer storage that accumulates pre-conditioned glue before it is needed for production. The dispersing unit and heat exchanger prepare the glue in advance, storing it in the buffer at the correct viscosity and temperature. This preliminary conditioning action ensures that when production starts or continues, properly conditioned glue is already available in the buffer, preventing production interruptions without requiring complex real-time conditioning during production.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures consistent glue viscosity and homogeneity, reducing production interruptions and waste by providing optimally conditioned glue for start-up operations and maintaining uniform quality throughout the production process.
Implementation Method 1
energy is introduced into the glue with the dispersing unit via shearing work during the comminution of agglomerates in the glue
Implementation Method 2
as a result of which the glue heats up accordingly
Implementation Method 3
the glue being guided according to the invention via a corresponding heat exchanger, where energy is withdrawn from the glue again
Implementation Method 4
energy is withdrawn from the glue again, so that the glue can be cooled down again to the desired temperature
Implementation Method 5
a corresponding viscometer is provided with which the viscosity of the glue is determined directly
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a device and a method for conditioning glue for a subsequent application. The device for conditioning glue consists at least of one supply pipe (1), a pipe (10) for transporting conditioned glue to the further application and a dispersing unit (4), and is characterised in that the dispersing unit (4) is connected in series with at least one heat exchanger (6, 13). The method for conditioning glue involves the glue being supplied to a dispersing unit (4) using at least one supply pipe (1), dispersed in the dispersing unit (4), and the glue being transported in a pipe (10) to the further application, where the temperature of the glue is set, depending on the specified viscosity, using at least one heat exchanger (6, 13). Particularly preferably, a repeated circulation of the glue through the dispersion unit (4) is also to be provided, in particular with a buffer tank (8).